Face mask

ABSTRACT

The face mask mainly includes a main piece. An upper portion of the main piece is bended backward at a first upper bending section, and then extended downward to form a first upper piece. A lower portion of the first upper piece is bended backward at a second upper bending section, and then extended upward to form a second upper piece. A lower portion of the main piece is similarly bended and extended to form a first lower piece and a second lower piece. A main piece height, a second upper piece height, and a second lower piece height, relative to a face mask height, are respectively between 42%˜64%, 42%˜48% and 31%˜39%. The main piece is vertically positioned towards a lower half of the face mask for a vertical distance, which is between 2% and 10% relative to the face mask height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to personal protective equipment, and more particular to face masks.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional face masks have a planar shape and, when one is applied, it usually tightly cover a wearer's mouse and nose. This not only causes respiratory difficulty, and the face mask may be contaminated by the wearer's saliva as he/she engages verbal communications. To obviate these shortcomings, recent face masks are designed to have multiple folds or to have three-dimensional shapes. The latter is costlier so that most users choose the former planar ones.

When a graphical pattern is printed on a planar and multi-fold face mask, either the pattern is partially covered by the folds or, when the folds of the face mask are expanded for wearing, the pattern breaks up. In addition, if the folds are not fully unfolded, the breathability of the face mask is still compromised.

The original design of the planar face mask with folds is that, when the folds are expanded, the face mask may better match the wearer's face. However, after the face mask is worn, it is still possible that the face mask is overly close to the face to cause respiratory difficulty, or the face mask is not close enough to offer effective protection. The wearer may enhance the breathability by manually adjusting the folds of the face mask. However, this adjustment move may contaminate the face mask with the bacteria on the wearer's hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A major objective of the present invention is to provide a face mask that has a main piece in the front of the face mask with reduced number of folds so that an intact graphical pattern on the main piece may be presented. The main piece is positioned towards a lower portion of the face mask to enhance breathability while effective coverage and comfort of the face mask are preserved.

To achieve the objective, the face mask includes a main piece, a first upper bending section, a first upper piece, a second upper bending section, a second upper piece, a first lower bending section, a first lower piece, a second lower bending section, and a second lower piece. An upper portion of the main piece is bended backward at the first upper bending section and extended downward to form the first upper piece. The first upper piece is bended backward at the second upper bending section and extended upward to form the second upper piece. A lower portion of the main piece is bended backward at the first lower bending section and then extended upward to form the first lower piece. The first lower piece is bended backward at the second lower bending section and extended downward to form the second lower piece. The main piece has a main piece height, and the main piece has a first lateral line vertically dividing the main piece into two equal halves. The second upper piece has a second upper piece height. The second lower piece has a second lower piece height. A face mask height is defined as the distance between an upper edge of the second upper piece and a lower edge of the second lower piece. The face mask has a second lateral line vertically dividing the face mask into two equal halves. A vertical distance is between the first lateral line and the second lateral line, Relative to the face mask height, the main piece height is between 42% and 64%, the second upper piece height is between 42% and 48%, and the second lower piece height is between 31% and 39%. The first lateral line is below the second lateral line and the vertical distance, relative to the face mask height, is between 2% and 10%.

With the large main piece, a printed graphical pattern thereon may be presented completely and more appealing. The main piece, without folds, also provides better breathability. As the first lateral line is below the second lateral line, the main piece is positioned correspondingly to a wearer's nose and mouth, further enhancing breathability. The asymmetric design with a higher second upper piece height and a shorter second lower piece height helps positioning the main piece right in front of the wearer's nose and mouth. The shorter second lower piece may still completely cover the wearer's chin. The face mask therefore can be expanded conveniently without sacrificing protection and comfort.

As described above, the face mask therefore resolves the shortcomings of the conventional planar face masks where the multiple folds lead to broken graphical pattern, inferior breathability, and lesser degree of coverage.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a face mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the face mask of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional diagram showing the face mask of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a profile diagram showing the face mask of FIG. 1 worn on the face of a user.

FIG. 5 is a front-view diagram showing the face mask of FIG. 1 worn on the face of a user.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a face mask according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a face mask according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a face mask according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description pro ides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , a face mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes

a rectangular and planar main piece 1 having a height A where a first lateral line 11 in the middle of main piece 1 horizontally divides the main piece 1 into an upper portion and a lower portion;

a first upper bending section 21 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of the first upper bending section 21 is joined to an entire upper edge of the main piece 1;

a rectangular and planar first upper piece 22 immediately attached to the upper portion of a back side of the main piece 1 where an upper edge of the first upper piece 22 is joined to an entire back edge of the first upper bending section 21;

a second upper bending section 23 having a U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of second upper bending section 23 is joined to an entire lower edge of the first upper piece 22;

a rectangular and planar second upper piece 24 immediately attached to a back side of the first upper piece 22 where a lower edge of the second upper piece 24 is joined to an entire back edge of the second upper bending section 23, and the second upper piece 24 has a height B;

a first lower bending section 31 having a U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of the first lower bending section 31 is joined to an entire lower edge of the main piece 1;

a rectangular and planar first lower piece 32 immediately attached to the lower portion of the back side of the main piece 1 where a lower edge of the first lower piece 32 is joined to an entire back edge of the first lower bending section 31;

a second lower bending section 33 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of second lower bending section 33 is joined to an entire upper edge of the first lower piece 32; and

a rectangular and planar second lower piece 34 immediately attached to a back side of the first lower piece 32 where an upper edge of the second lower piece 34 is joined to an entire back edge of the second lower bending section 33, and the second lower piece 34 has a height C.

The height of the face mask between an upper edge of the second upper piece 24 and a lower edge of second lower piece 34 is T which is greater than the main piece height A. A second lateral line L in the middle of face mask horizontally divides the face mask into an upper portion and a lower portion. The first lateral line 11 and the second lateral line L has a vertical distance D in between.

The main piece height A, relative to the face mask height T, is between 42% and 64%. The second upper piece height B, relative to face mask height. T, is between 42% and 48%. The second lower piece height C, relative to the face mask height T, is between 31% and 39%. The first lateral line 11 is located lower than the second lateral line L, and the vertical distance D, relative to the face mask height T, is between 2% and 10%.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 , a face mask of the present invention has the second upper piece 24, the second upper bending section 23, the first upper piece 22, the first upper bending section 21, the main piece 1, the first lower bending section 31, the first lower piece 32, the second lower bending section 33, and the second lower piece 34 a edge-to-edge connected in this order into a single piece that is folded at the second upper bending section 23, the first upper bending section 21, the first lower bending section 31, and the second lower bending section 33. Each of these components of the face mask may be single-layered or multi-layered. The main piece 1's height A occupies the face mask height T's 42%˜64%, meaning the main piece 1 constitutes a significant part of the front side of the face mask. Therefore, a graphic pattern 12 like logo or advertisement printed on the main piece 1 can be fully presented without being affected by the folds of the face mask, greatly enhancing the face mask's visual appealing. Basically the face mask includes the main piece 1 as one layer and the second upper piece 24 together with second lower piece 34 as another layer. After the lateral edges of all the pieces and sections are welded together, the first upper piece 22 and the second upper piece 24, as well as the first lower piece 32 and the second lower piece 34, can be easily expanded without being affected by the welding. The first upper piece 22, the second upper piece 24, the first lower piece 32, and the second lower piece 34 also provide support to the main piece 1, so that a greater breathing space 4 is formed there between, thereby enhancing the breathability of the face mask.

Furthermore, as the location of a wearer's nose and mouth corresponds to a lower part of the face mask, the second upper piece height B is designed to be between 42% and 48% of the face mask height T, and the second lower piece height C is designed to be between 31% and 39% of the face mask height T. By having this asymmetric arrangement with the second upper piece height B greater than the second lower piece height C, the wearer's nose and mouth would be directly behind the main piece 1 after the face mask is expanded and worn to enhance breathability. In addition, the face mask may still adequately cover the wearer's chin to provide effective protection without. sacrificing comfort. Specifically, the first lateral line 11 of the main piece 1 is vertically below the second lateral line L of the face mask height T, and the vertical distance D relative to the face mask height T is between 2% and 10%. In other words, the distance from the upper edge of the second upper piece 24 (also the upper edge of the face mask) to the first lateral line 11 relative to the face ask height T is between 52% and 60%. The main piece 1, without any fold, maximizes the breathability of the face mask.

As shown FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of the present invention is structurally similar to the previous embodiments and the difference lies in that an upper portion of the second upper piece 24 a is bended outward to form a third upper piece 241 a, a lower portion of the second lower piece 34 a is bended forward to form a third lower piece 341 a. The third upper piece 241 a and the third lower piece 341 a make the upper and lower edges of the face mask clean, neat, and more appealing A nose clip may be embedded within or hidden by the third upper piece 241 a. A gap 13 a is formed between the second upper bending section 23 a and the second lower bending section 33 a whose height relative to the face mask height T is between 15% and 27%. The height of the gap 13 a is therefore about the main piece height A's 20%˜40% so that the expansion of the face mask is more convenient. In the present embodiment, preferably, the main piece height A relative to the face mask height T is between 62% and 64%, the second upper piece height B relative to the face mask height T is between 42% and 43%, and the second lower piece height C relative to the face mask height T is between 36% and 37%.

As shown in FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of the present invention is structurally similar to the previous embodiments and the difference lies in that, relative to the face mask height T, the height of the gap 13 b is between 19% and 21%, the second upper piece height B is between 47% and 48%, and the second lower piece height C is between 31% and 32%. This embodiment serves to demonstrate that there are various variations to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8 , a fourth embodiment of the present invention is structurally similar to the previous embodiments and the difference lies in that, relative to the face mask height T, the main piece height A is between 52% and 64%, the second upper piece height B is between 45% and 46%, and the second lower piece height C is between 38% and 39%. This embodiment serves to demonstrate that there are various variations to the present invention.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A face mask, comprising: a main piece having a main piece height where a first lateral line in the middle of main piece horizontally divides the main piece into an upper portion and a lower portion; a first upper bending section having an inverted U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of the first upper bending section is joined to an upper edge of the main piece; a first upper piece attached to the upper portion of a back side of the main piece where an upper edge of the first upper piece is joined to a back edge of the first upper bending section; a second upper bending section having a U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of second upper bending section is joined to a lower edge of the first upper piece; a second upper piece attached to a back side of the first upper piece where a lower edge of the second upper piece is joined to a back edge of the second upper bending section, and the second upper piece has a second upper piece height; a first lower bending section having a U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of the first lower bending section is joined to a lower edge the main piece; a first lower piece attached to the lower portion of the back side of the main piece where a lower edge of the first lower piece is joined to a back edge of the first lower bending section; a second lower bending section having an inverted U-shaped cross-section where a front edge of second lower bending section is joined to an upper edge of the first lower piece; and a second lower piece attached to a back side of the first lower piece where an upper edge of the second lowerpiece is joined to a back edge of the second lo bending section, and the second lower piece has a second lower piece height; wherein the face mask has a lace mask height between an upper edge of the second upper piece and a lower edge of second lower piece; a second lateral line in the middle of face mask horizontally divides the face mask into an upper portion and a lower portion; the first lateral line and the second lateral line has a vertical distance in between; relative to the face mask height, the main piece height is between 42% and 64%, the second upper piece height is between 42% and 48%, and the second lower piece height is between 31% and 39%; the first lateral line is below the second lateral line; and the vertical distance relative to the face mask height is between 2% and 10%.
 2. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein a gap between the second upper bending section and the second lower bending section has a height relative to face mask height is between 15% and 27%.
 3. The face mask according to claim 2, wherein the gap has a height relative to face mask height is between 19% and 21%.
 4. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein the mainpiece height relative to face mask height is between 52% and 64%.
 5. The face mask according to claim 4, wherein the main piece height relative to face mask height is between 62% and 64%.
 6. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein the second upper piece height relative to the face mask height is between 42% and 43%; and the second lower piece height relative to the face mask height is between 36% and 37%.
 7. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein the second upper piece height relative to the face mask height is between 47% and 48%; and the second lower piece height relative to the face mask height is between 31% and 32%.
 8. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein the second upper piece height relative to the face mask height is between 45% and 46%; and the second lower piece height relative to the face mask height is between 38% and 39%.
 9. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the second upper piece is bended outward to form a third upper piece.
 10. The face mask according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the second lower piece is bended forward to form a third lower piece. 